The end of sexual violence + domestic abuse? 30+ groups working for it

Why is it that, when we talk about sexual violence and domestic abuse, we talk about the women involved and erase the men from the conversation? In today’s talk, violence-prevention educator Jackson Katz explains why sentences like “Mary is a battered woman” are far more common in the cultural dialogue surrounding these issues than ones like “John beat Mary.”

Jackson Katz: Violence against women—it's a men's issueThe takeaway of Katz’s talk, given at TEDxFiDiWomen: That we have to stop thinking of violence against women as purely a women’s issue, and start thinking of it as a men’s issue too.

“Why is domestic violence still a problem? Why do so many men abuse the women and girls and the men and boys they claim to love?” asks Katz in this talk. “What’s going on with men? What are the roles of the various institutions in our society that are helping to produce abusive men at pandemic rates? Because this isn’t about individual perpetrators — that’s a naïve way to understand what is a much deeper and pervasive social problem.”

To hear Katz’s call for all men to take responsibility, to become leaders in calling out behavior that’s entwined with violence against women and to redefine what it means to be a man, watch this powerful talk. And below, we asked Katz to compile a list of resources for those invigorated by the conversation on how we can shift cultural norms, as well as for those who want more information on organizations that tackle sexual violence and domestic abuse. Here, Katz’s incredibly comprehensive list.

Men’s organizations working to end men’s violence against women, children and other men:

International and online groups:

The Anti-Porn Men Project www.antipornmen.org The Anti-Porn Men Project is an online space for (mainly) men to read, write and discuss anti-porn arguments and issues. Their position: Pornography is an important issue in tackling both violence against women and wider gender inequality, as well as an important personal issue in the lives and relationships of many people. It is for these reasons — and not out of any political or religious sentiment — that the Anti-Porn Men Project offers resources and a space for discussion.

MenEngage: Boys and Men for Gender Equality www.menengage.org MenEngage is a global alliance of NGOs and UN agencies that seeks to engage boys and men to achieve gender equality. Members include Sonke Gender Justice (South Africa), Promundo (Brazil), Salud y Genero (Mexico), WHO, UNDP, UNFPA and UNIFEM. At the national level, members include more than 400 NGOs from Sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, North America, Asia and Europe. The Alliance came together in 2004 with the general goal of working in partnership to promote the engagement of men and boys in achieving gender equality, promoting health and reducing violence at the global level, including questioning the structural barriers to achieving gender equality.

Men’s Resources International http://www.mensresourcesinternational.org/ Men’s Resources International (MRI) helps men around the globe practice and promote a healthy, compassionate and responsible model of masculinity. Their approach is to identify and support men’s networks in all stages of development, and provide training, coaching, materials and technical assistance to help these networks grow in size and effectiveness and to connect with other like-minded men’s and women’s organizations. Much of their work in recent years has been in Africa.

Men’s Story Project www.mensstoryproject.org The Men’s Story Project (MSP) is a public performance and community dialogue project that aims to strengthen social norms that support healthy masculinities and gender equality, and to help eliminate gender-based violence, homophobia and other oppressions that are intertwined with masculinities. They do this through men´s public story-sharing events, documentary films and other mass media. The MSP started in San Francisco in 2008, and is intended for local implementation and evaluation around the world.

1 in 6 http://1in6.org/ 1 in 6 is an organization that helps men who have had unwanted or abusive sexual experiences in childhood live healthier, happier lives. Their mission also includes serving family members, friends, and partners by providing information and support resources. Their site includes information about the 1in6 Online SupportLine, a free, confidential, secure service that provides live help over the 1in6 website.

Voice Male Magazine www.voicemalemagazine.org Voice Male is the profeminist men’s movement’s ‘magazine of record,’ playing a role analogous to the one Ms. Magazine plays in the women’s movement. It has been published quarterly in one form or another since 1983, and covers topics ranging from multiracial men’s efforts to challenge men’s violence, to fatherhood, men’s health and men’s ongoing exploration of their interior lives. It counts itself among a growing legion of activist male allies working with both men and women in advocating for new and healthier expressions of manhood.

White Ribbon Campaign www.whiteribbon.ca The White Ribbon Campaign (WRC) is the world’s largest movement of men and boys working to end violence against women and girls, promote gender equity, healthy relationships and a new vision of masculinity. Starting in 1991, WRC asked men to wear white ribbons as a pledge to never commit, condone or remain silent about violence against women and girls Since then, the White Ribbon has spread to over 60 countries around the world. It works to examine the root causes of gender-based violence and create a cultural shift that helps bring us to a future without violence.

XY Online www.xyonline.net XY is a website and informational resource focused on men, masculinities and gender politics. XY explores issues of gender and sexuality, the daily issues of men’s and women’s lives, and practical aspects of personal and social change. XY is a forum for debate and discussion, including commentary on contemporary and emerging issues in gender and sexual politics; a resource library or clearinghouse for key reports, manuals, and articles; a toolkit for activism, personal transformation and social change.

National and local groups:

A Call to Men www.acalltomen.org A Call to Men aims to promote a more healthy and respectful definition of manhood. ACTM provides keynote presentations, consultations, workshops and training sessions, and works with other groups to create national campaigns that raise awareness about ending violence on a larger scale. Watch a TED Talk from Tony Porter of A Call to Men »

Coaching Boys Into Men www.futureswithoutviolence.org/content/features/detail/811/ The Coaching Boys Into Men (CBIM) program invites men to use their unique position to prevent domestic and sexual violence. Men — as fathers, brothers, coaches, teachers, uncles and mentors — have a role to play in coaching boys into men. CBIM offers a downloadable training kit aimed at athletic coaches.

Men Can Stop Rape www.mencanstoprape.org Men Can Stop Rape mobilizes men to use their strength for creating cultures free from violence, especially men’s violence against women. Since 1997, MCSR has advocated for a redefinition of masculinity and male strength as part of preventing men’s violence against women. MCSR conducts trainings, develops social media campaigns and consults with schools and organizations.

Men for Gender Equality www.mfj.se Men for Gender Equality Sweden is a Swedish NGO in the field of engaging men and boys in gender equality and violence prevention. The Swedish name of the organization is Män för Jämställdhet. Men for Gender Equality focuses on social norms of masculinities; how they are formed, how they influence society, relations and individuals, and how they can be reformed to contribute to gender equality, freedom from violence and better health for women, girls, boys and men.

Men’s Initiative for Jane Doe http://www.mijd.org/ The Men’s Initiative for Jane Doe Inc. (MIJD) is a collaboration of men’s outreach projects throughout the state of Massachusetts, organizing support from men in their communities for Jane Doe Inc. MIJD encourages men and boys to speak up in ending sexual assault, domestic abuse and oppression; connects and supports male leaders of all ages and backgrounds with projects to end violence; builds men’s partnerships with women in the work to end violence against women, men and children.

Mentors in Violence Prevention (MVP) Mentors in Violence Prevention (MVP) is a gender violence, gay-bashing and bully prevention program founded in 1993 at Northeastern University’s Center for the Study of Sport in Society in Boston. The multi-racial, mixed gender MVP Program was the first large-scale attempt to enlist the sports culture in a positive, proactive way in the fight against gender-based violence. Although it began in the sports and continues to have a high-profile presence there, MVP has been widely implemented in general populations of students in high schools, colleges and community organizations. MVP introduced the bystander approach to the sexual and domestic violence fields. Currently there are three MVP-related organizations:

MVP Strategies http://www.mvpstrategies.net/ (web site in development) The program that Jackson Katz directs, MVP Strategies coordinates trainings in schools, colleges and communities across the U.S., as well as trainings in countries overseas. MVP Strategies also coordinates trainings worldwide in the U.S. Armed Forces.

MVP-National https://www.facebook.com/mvpnational?ref=ts&fref=ts MVP-National coordinates trainings in college and professional athletics. It is based at the University of Central Florida in Orlando.

MVP-Northeastern http://www.northeastern.edu/sportinsociety/leadership-education/mvp/ In addition to educational outreach in the Greater-Boston area and beyond, MVP-Northeastern conducts semi-annual institutes where participants are trained in the use of the MVP curriculum.

The National Organization for Men Against Sexism (NOMAS) www.nomas.org The National Organization for Men Against Sexism is an activist organization of men and women supporting positive changes for men. NOMAS advocates a perspective that is pro-feminist, gay affirmative, anti-racist, dedicated to enhancing men’s lives, and committed to justice on a broad range of social issues including class, age, religion and physical abilities. NOMAS sponsors a yearly national conference on Men and Masculinity in support of local and grassroots initiatives, bringing together activists, academics and workers in mental health, diversity, faith communities, and domestic and sexual violence fields. The Men’s Studies Association Meeting provides academics the opportunity to present scholarly papers on these issues.

Sonke Gender Justice (South Africa) http://www.genderjustice.org.za/ Sonke Gender Justice Network is a non-partisan, non-profit organization established in 2006. Today, Sonke has established a growing presence on the African continent and plays an active role internationally. Sonke works to create the change necessary for men, women, young people and children to enjoy equitable, healthy and happy relationships that contribute to the development of just and democratic societies. Sonke pursues this goal across Southern Africa by using a human rights framework to build the capacity of government, civil society organizations and citizens to achieve gender equality, prevent gender-based violence and reduce the spread of HIV and the impact of AIDS.

Organizations dedicated to sexual and domestic violence:

Just Detention International www.justdetention.org Just Detention International is a health and human rights organization that seeks to end sexual abuse in all forms of detention. The rape of detainees — whether by corrections staff or by other inmates — is a crime and is recognized under international law as a form of torture. In the U.S., sexual assault in detention has reached epidemic levels, with an estimate of more than 200,000 people subjected to this form of violence every year. JDI advocates for the safety and well-being of inmates, and works to hold government officials accountable for prisoner rape; promote public attitudes that value the dignity and safety of inmates; and ensure that survivors of this violence have access to the help they need.

National Sexual Violence Resource Center www.nsvrc.org The National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC) is a national information and resource hub relating to all aspects of sexual violence. Founded by the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape, the oldest and one of the largest state sexual assault coalitions, the NSVRC is funded through a cooperative agreement from the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention’s Division of Violence Prevention. The NSVRC staff collects and disseminates resources on sexual violence including statistics, research, position statements, statutes, training curricula, prevention initiatives and program information. With these resources, the NSVRC assists coalitions, advocates and others interested in understanding and eliminating sexual violence. The NSVRC has an active and diverse advisory council that assists and advises staff and ensures a broad national perspective. The NSVRC also enjoys a strong partnership with state, territory and tribal anti-sexual assault coalitions and allied organizations.

National Center on Domestic and Sexual Violence www.ncdsv.org The National Center on Domestic and Sexual Violence helps professionals who work with victims and perpetrators: law enforcement; criminal justice professionals such as prosecutors, judges and probation officers; health care professionals including emergency response teams, nurses and doctors; domestic violence and sexual assault advocates and service providers; and counselors and social workers. In addition to these professionals, the National Center also works with local, state and federal agencies; state and national organizations; educators, researchers, faith community leaders, media, community leaders, elected officials, policymakers, and all branches of the military. Their resource list includes info about male victims of domestic and sexual violence.

RAINN www.rainn.org RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network) is the nation’s largest anti-sexual violence organization. RAINN created and operates the National Sexual Assault Hotline (800.656.HOPE and online.rainn.org) in partnership with more than 1,100 local rape crisis centers across the country and operates the DoD Safe Helpline for the Department of Defense. RAINN also carries out programs to prevent sexual violence, help victims and ensure that rapists are brought to justice.

National Coalition Against Domestic Violence www.ncadv.org NCADV’s work includes coalition building at the local, state, regional and national levels; support for the provision of community-based, non-violent alternatives – such as safe home and shelter programs – for battered women and their children; public education and technical assistance; policy development and innovative legislation; focus on the leadership of NCADV’s caucuses developed to represent the concerns of organizationally under-represented groups; and efforts to eradicate social conditions which contribute to violence against women and children.

National Domestic Violence Hotline www.thehotline.org The National Domestic Violence Hotline provides 24-hour support, offering advocacy, safety planning, resources and hope to everyone affected by domestic violence. The Hotline was established in 1996 as a component of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) passed by Congress. The Hotline is a nonprofit organization that provides crisis intervention, information and referral to victims of domestic violence, perpetrators, friends and families. It alsois a resource for domestic violence advocates government officials, law enforcement agencies and the general public. Contact the Hotline at: 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or 1-800-787-3224 (TTY). Advocates who are Deaf are available Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (PST) by videophone (855-812-1001), instant messenger (DeafHotline) or email (deafhelp@thehotline.org).

Institute on Domestic Violence in the African American Community www.idvaac.org The Institute on Domestic Violence in the African American Community (IDVAAC) is an organization focused on the unique circumstances of African Americans as they face issues related to domestic violence, including intimate partner violence, child abuse, elder maltreatment and community violence. IDVAAC’s mission is to enhance society’s understanding of and ability to end violence in the African-American community. Formed in 1993, when a group of scholars and practitioners met to discuss the plight of the African-American community in the area of domestic violence, the group agreed that the “one-size-fits-all” approach to domestic violence services would not suffice, as African Americans disproportionately experience stressors that can create conditions that lead to violence in the home.

National Latin@ Network for Healthy Families and Communities www.nationallatinonetwork.org The National Latin@ Network for Healthy Families and Communities, a project of Casa de Esperanza, is a national institute on domestic violence focusing on Latin communities. They provide training and consultations to practitioners and activists throughout the US, as well as in Latin America. They organize national and regional events and engage in federal and state public policy advocacy, as well as conduct research on issues that affect Latin@s in the US and abroad.

Asian & Pacific Islander Institute on Domestic Violence www.apiidv.org Asian & Pacific Islander Institute on Domestic Violence (API Institute) is a national resource center on domestic violence, sexual violence, trafficking, and other forms of gender-based violence in Asian and Pacific Islander communities. It serves a national network of advocates, community-based organizations, national and state programs, legal, health, and mental health professionals, researchers, policy advocates and activists from social justice organizations working to eliminate violence against women. It analyzes and addresses critical issues; provides consultation, technical assistance and training; conducts research; and engages in policy advocacy

Mending the Sacred Hoop: Working to End Violence Against Native American Women www.mshoop.org Mending The Sacred Hoop works from a social change perspective to end violence against Native women and children while restoring the safety, sovereignty, and sacredness of Native women. They are committed to strengthening the voice and vision of Native peoples through grassroots efforts to restore the leadership of Native women. The Mending the Sacred Hoop Technical Assistance Project (TA-Project) provides training and technical assistance nationally to Office on Violence Against Women Tribal grantees to support them in their efforts to address violence against women in their communities.

Equality Now www.equalitynow.org Equality Now works for the protection and promotion of human rights of women and girls around the world. Working with grassroots women’s and human rights organizations and individual activists since 1992, Equality Now documents violence and discrimination against women and mobilizes international action to support efforts to stop these abuses.

Coalition Against Trafficking in Women www.catwinternational.org CATW works to end human trafficking and the commercial sexual exploitation of women and children worldwide. CATW is the world’s first organization to fight human trafficking internationally and is the world’s leading abolitionist organization. CATW engages in advocacy, education, victim services and prevention programs for victims of trafficking and prostitution in Asia, Africa, Latin America, Europe and North America, including in the United States.

Stop It Now! www.stopitnow.org Stop It Now! is dedicated to preventing the sexual abuse of children by mobilizing adults, families and communities to take actions that protect children before they are harmed. They provide support, information and resources to keep children safe and create healthier communities. Since 1992, they have identified, refined and shared effective ways for individuals, families and communities to act to prevent child sexual abuse before children are harmed — and to get help for everyone involved.

Hollaback www.ihollaback.org Hollaback is a movement to end street harassment powered by a network of local activists around the world. They work together to better understand street harassment, to ignite public conversations, and to develop innovative strategies to ensure equal access to public spaces. They advocate the use of smartphones to document, map and share incidents of street harassment – because the real motive of street harassment is intimidation. Their vision is a world where street harassment is not tolerated and where everyone enjoys equal access to public spaces.

Prostitution Research & Education www.prostitutionresearch.com Prostitution Research & Education (PRE) conducts research on prostitution, pornography and trafficking and offers education and consultation to researchers, survivors, the public and policymakers. PRE’s goal is to abolish the institution of prostitution while at the same time advocating for alternatives to trafficking and prostitution – including emotional and physical healthcare for women in prostitution. The roots of prostitution are found in the assumption that men are entitled to buy women for sex, in racism and in women’s poverty.

V-Day www.vday.org V-Day is a global activist movement to end violence against women and girls. V-Day is a catalyst that promotes creative events to increase awareness, raise money and revitalize the spirit of existing anti-violence organizations. V-Day generates broader attention for the fight to stop violence against women and girls, including rape, battery, incest, female genital mutilation (FGM) and sex slavery.